Converting Integer to Binary String with Desired Padding

When converting an integer to binary using the built-in bin() function, obtaining a binary string with desired padding can present a challenge. While bin(6) provides '0b110', erasing the leading '0b' with bin(6)[2:] yields '110' without padding.

Solution 1: Using Formatting String

To achieve zero-padding, a formatting string can be employed. Here's an example:

'{0:08b}'.format(6)  # Output: '00000110'

This string specifies a variable at position 0 with a specified format. The ':08b' portion indicates that the variable should be formatted as an eight-digit binary string, zero-padded on the left.

Solution 2: Using F-Strings (Python 3.6 )

For Python versions 3.6 and above, f-strings offer a more concise alternative:

f'{6:08b}'  # Output: '00000110'

This syntax directly incorporates the formatting options within the string literal.

Breaking Down the Formatting Options:

• {}: Variable placeholder
• 0: Variable at argument position 0
• :: Formatting options
• 08: Eight-digit zero-padding
• b: Binary representation conversion